Cape Town, South Africa : Mike Louw

Mike Louw, Capetown, South Africa : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2005

[ student design build : washing and ablutions : underprivileged communities ]

The Imizamo Yethu Water Platforms

University of Cape Town, School of Architecture, Planning, Geomatics

Student Design and Build Programs 2010 – 2016

Imizamo Yethu

, is an informal settlement in the greater Hout Bay Valley area, 20km south of central Cape Town. The 18 hectare settlement houses approximately 33,600 people.

The Imizamo Yethu water platforms is an annual design-build project that has run each year 2010 - 2016 in different locations. The projects are designed in the second year of study at the University of Cape Town and implemented by volunteers students in the June vacation.

In the informal settlement of Imizamo Yethu, an estimated 9464 households make use of shared toilets and taps, which means that the service ratio is an average of 61.1 households per toilet and a staggering 394.3 households per tap.

The water platforms are a way of providing additional services, more dignified places for water collection, spaces for the washing of clothes and the integration of these with shared toilet facilities where these are in close proximity. The platforms also serve as social gathering spaces and cleaner areas for children to play.

The main aims of the project are practical teaching and learning, and the contribution to infrastructure service delivery, while sub-themes include skills building, temporary job creation and the use of recycled content.

The design of the platform and its parts has been integrated into the course curriculum, and after designs are developed and the necessary planning and community liaison is completed, the project moves onto site.

During an intensive two weeks in the June vacations, the students and a few key staff members do earthworks, build formwork, install reinforcing, mix concrete, build walls, paint and even make roof structures, all in conjunction with members of the community.

Project Leader : Mike Louw, Senior Lecturer, University of Capetown

Collaborators (staff) : John Coetzee, Shafiek Matthews, Kevin Fellingham, Heinrich Kammeyer, Nic Coetzer, Luis Mira

Collaborators (students) : Second year BAS student volunteers

Community Liaison : Kenny Towke

Included in the official program for World Design Capital 2014 and exhibited at Cape Town City Hall as part of the Open design Festival 2014.

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org

Lindsay Johnston12 May 2017

Juan Carlos Eugene Soler : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2001

54th Central Glass International Design Competition, Tokyo, Japan

‘Architecture That Generates New Sakariba’ - 2019

The Japanese ‘Central Glass International Design Competitions’ have been run each year since 1966. The 2019 competition attracted 188 international entries. Seven were shortlisted and Eugene’s entry was placed second.

[ theoretical proposition, metaphor, solar energy, technology, sustainability, community ]

‘MOON LANDING’

It is in our deepest primal instinct as social beings that people gather in a communal place that gives us a sense of culture and belonging. We gather around the warmth and wonder of campfire under the stars and share memories and stories. Or by day, under the cool shade of a tree- a natural place to meet a lover or exchange knowledge. Such place that delivers these conditions perhaps is the genesis of ‘Sakariba’.

The proposal is a massive balloon structure that can create and harness energy from the Sun whilst defining space underneath its volume, where people of all ages can gather to meet, play or ‘hangout’. The ‘Moon Landing’ hopes to create a central place for gathering where business and commerce are encouraged and generate ‘Sakariba’.

On a hot summer or rainy day, people can gather under its shade. On a cloudy day, the balloon structure can rise above the clouds where it can efficiently harness energy from the Sun. At night, it becomes a light source and a signal to attract people and when it descends it creates a space where people can gather around its warm glow. The ‘Moon Landing’ has all these features at the same time providing sustainable energy to its local community.

This idea is not science fiction but actually a very feasible means of efficiently combining what is currently being developed in balloon technology, sustainability, science and art. What is new is the realignment of technology to create a more poetic and meaningful purpose to reinvigoration local culture, religion, myths and stories, which is appropriate when it needs to be integrated in local communities. Especially to the 25% of the world’s population which has no or lack access to electricity. Such space offers a wonderful chance for the community to be activated, bring people together and encourage businesses and various activities.

By combining a strong metaphor with technology and sustainability- the proposal hopes to address not only the community’s basic needs but also hopes to give a deep importance and meaning in local culture and tradition to bring people together and organically for business growth and generate a ‘New Sakariba’

Moreover, in a world where we have Internet connection but seem to be ‘disconnected’- the ‘Moon Landing’ can be a benefit to existing ‘Sakariba’ not only to reduce the abundant energy we are drowning in, but also to remind us to look up and realize our place in the Universe and encourage real connection with each other.

Architect : Eugene Soler

Awards : 54th Central Glass International Design Competition _ Second Place

Web site : http://www.ateliersoler.com

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org